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News and Updates from CVSL

One of the UK’s leading tyre safety warning group TyreSafe has warned families across the nation to check their tyres before heading off on a break this Half Term. Not only could you endanger your own life but also that from others. In addition to this you could be fined for up to £2500 and get up to 3 penalty points on your license per illegal tyre. More than half (56.4 per cent) of motorists are driving on illegal tyres at the point of replacement.

What to check on a weekly basis:

Check you tyre pressure

Check the recommend tyre pressure in the owner’s manual. You can check the pressure and inflate it at your local petrol station. Please keep in the back of your mind that if you are carrying a lot of luggage or passengers that the manufacturer’s recommend pressure will often change

Check your tread depth

The legal limit must have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread around the entire circumference of the tyre.

Insert a 20p coin in the main groves of the tyre and do this at several places of the tyre. If the outer band of the 20p coin is still visible it is worth getting this checked out by a specialist.

Check the condition of your tyres

Check for sign of wear such as cuts, bulges and sidewall damage. It also important to remove any stones or other embedded items in the tread. If there is any cuts, bulges and sidewall damages we advise to see a tyre specialist.

Also check your spare tyre if the pressure is still good as well as it being in a good condition.

CVSL also offers maintenance packages on car leases more info can be found here.

The weather is slowly picking up and the UK is getting ready for another Bank Holiday Weekend! If you are still stuck for ideas why not take your car and visit any of the suggestions below as there is plenty of stuff going on around the country:

Dorking: are you a wine lover? Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey is doing different kind of Vineyard Tours. Learn everything about how this English wine is made. Make sure you have got a designated driver! Find out more here: http://www.denbies.co.uk/visit-denbies/finding-us/

Brighton: visit the Brighton Festival which is on until Sunday the 24th. Brighton festival is a yearly celebration of music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film and literature. A highlight for Saturday and Sunday is The Measure of All Things which is a new live cinema performance loosely inspired by the Guinness Book of Records. More info can be found here: http://brightonfestival.org/event/5922/the_measure_of_all_things/ more info about Brighton Festival here: http://brightonfestival.orgAltherstone, Twycross Zoo: why not visit this Zoo in North Warwickshire? Our favourite is the giraffes. More information can be found here: http://twycrosszoo.org/

Wymeswold, Leicestershire: didn’t get tickets to this year’s Glastonbury? Or can’t afford it? Why not visit Glastonbudget in Wymeswold, Leicestershire. The world’s biggest and best tribute festival. Tribute acts are: Kins of Leon, Four Fighters and Not the Rolling Stones. Festival tickets can be bought here: http://www.glastonbudget.org/ this includes free parking and free camping.

Salford: don’t want to drive this Sunday and feeling active? For adults or families with children over 12,cycle around the leafy cycle lanes of the old railway looplines. Meet at the visitor centre. Blackleach Country Park, John Street, Walkden. Free, booking essential – 0161 793 4219 or rangers@salford.gov.uk. 24th of May -10am-12pm.

Blackpool: as the weather forecast doesn’t look bad this Bank Holiday Weekend why not visit Blackpool and enjoy a bit of sunshine and ice cream! Find out more what’s on this Bank Holiday weekend: http://www.visitblackpool.com/

Don’t forget to have a look at our family cars! Have a good Bank Holiday!

Analysts have predicted a rush for Euro 5 vans in the hopes of avoiding the extra costs and tank weight of the Euro 6 vehicles.

The trends and dynamics of the used van market is likely to be askew for the foreseeable future as fleet demand for Euro 5 emission compliant vans sky rockets ahead of September’s mandatory launch of new Euro 6 models. The increase is unlikely to see a total collapse in used van prices as the economy continues to grow and business confidence remains high.

Despite the initial worries, some experts do believe it is “business as usual” with undisputed growth in the economy leading towards enough demand to keep pace with the increasing volumes being de-fleeted.

However the same experts are cautious still, warning that the marketplace changes taking place, notably used vans with high mileage over four years old, may take the biggest hit as the demand over the past 24 months for hard-used models are driven by lack of more desirable alternatives.

ZERO EMISSIONS – £500million to help make every car and van zero emissions by 2050.

SAFER CYCLING – £200million to increase journeys made by bicycle and make them safer, too.

The motoring section of the Conservatives’ manifesto leading up to the 2015 General Election, started by reminding us that they had frozen fuel duty throughout their 5 years in power and although proud of their record so far, unfortunately there was no such promise for the future.

Instead, David Cameron and the Conservatives have focused on their promise of £15billion for building 1,300 extra lane miles on the UK roads and enough funding to fix 18 million potholes.

This is also the first we’ve heard of their plans for all vehicles to be zero emissions by 2050 with the help of £500million funding.

This year driving licences in the UK will all go paperless as the government continues to press ahead with its plan to digitize your motoring records.

A government spokesperson has clarified: “The reason for abolishing the counterpart is to reduce the burden on motorists.”

So will it really make your life easier? How does this all affect you?

We will answer all your questions here:

When exactly are these changes happening?

All paper counterparts will no longer be valid from 8th June this year. The DVLA are also advising all drivers to destroy their paper counterparts. The date will be on your doorstep before you know it!

Licence issued before 1998? Do you need to get a new one?

Your licence will still be valid until it is due for renewal.

The next time you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only. So no immediate action needed.

How can you check your driving record if you need to?

All of your details will be compiled on to an online database that you will be able to access anytime.

If you do prefer things a little more 20th century though you can still request your records either by telephone or post.

How will the business owners and employers of the UK be affected?

A similar site for employers, allowing them to check the driving details of possible employees, is planned for launch at some point this year. A date has not yet been released.

Oh and the change will also save you from paying £20 if you need to replace a lost or damaged paper counterpart.

To save even more money, why not check out all of CVSL’s latest offers here.